The Sword and Laser discussion

I'm rereading Aces High, book two of Wild Cards, the other George R.R. Martin series that is always overlooked because maybe they are hard to find. What are others reading in the 11th month of the year?

Not quite November 1 here yet, but close enough for me! I've got about 4 hours left in the audiobook Macbeth: A Novel. Since it looks like T & V won't announce a new book this week, once I finish Macbeth, I'll probably move into Solaris on audio (~9 hours, a recommendation from Luke @ SFBRP) and read Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America on the Kindle.

I've taken the week off work. Except for a procedure I'm having on Thursday, I'm figuring I'll be able to get a good bit of reading done.

Of course, if V & T do announce a new book, these plans may change. ;)

I'm about 1/2 way through Mr. Monster. 2nd part of the John Carver series. A pretty good modern day serial killer tale with some sword thrown in for awesome sauce.

I'm almost done with The Magician King Then I'll read whatever we pick next and finish Reamde.

I am finishing up Dying Bites which was surprisingly good. I only picked it up on a white and it was on sale and I had to tear myself away from it last night to get some sleep.

I've started The Mists of Avalon, which was a Sword and Laser pick ages ago. I'll catch up eventually.

Just started Charles Stross's The Jennifer Morgue.

Just finished Reamde on to The Tears of the Sun then The Children of the Sky...

I'm on the third and final book of the Axis of Time Trilogy - Final Impact by John Birmingham. I have thoroughly enjoyed this alternate history WWII saga.

Cheers, Jim

I will probably get back to working my way through the Warcraft novels and read Cycle of Hatred. Listening to Blood Rites and Daemon on Audible. If I get time I'll get back to finishing two series I've started by reading The Girl Who Played with Fire and A Storm of Swords.

Daniel wrote: "I'm about 1/2 way through Mr. Monster. 2nd part of the John Carver series. A pretty good modern day serial killer tale with some sword thrown in for awesome sauce."

Been considering starting that series,Dan Wells is a fun guy but I'm not sure if I'd enjoy a serial killer series.

I have a lot to read this month but I'm sticking with The Scorch Trials because of its size until The Alloy of Law comes out. Why did I hear so many complaints of cruelty to children in Hunger Games when this book has so much worse.

In HG they got stabbed, in this kids heads get slowly bitten off by metal pac-man and globs of molten steel melt off their faces. Is it simply because the head eating pac-men were made by other children.

I am in the middle of Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher. I hope to finish the series pretty soon.

Went back to the old version of The Stand. Harold and Trashcan Man have arrived.

Tamahome wrote: "Went back to the old version of The Stand. Harold and Trashcan Man have arrived."

Nice! The older version are hard to come by.

I just finished Ender's Game, I'm currently reading Speaker for the Dead and I only wish had I read them sooner.

Boots wrote: "I just finished Ender's Game, I'm currently reading Speaker for the Dead and I only wish had I read them sooner."

All you going to read all 9 books in the Ender's series?

Kevin wrote: "Boots wrote: "I just finished Ender's Game, I'm currently reading Speaker for the Dead and I only wish had I read them sooner."

All you going to read all 9 books in the Ender's series?"

I definitely plan on reading up to Xenocide, I guess I'll decide from there.

Boots wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Boots wrote: "I just finished Ender's Game, I'm currently reading Speaker for the Dead and I only wish had I read them sooner."

All you going to read all 9 ..."

Good to know! I just a set of the first 8 books over the weekend.

Kevin wrote: "Tamahome wrote: "Went back to the old version of The Stand. Harold and Trashcan Man have arrived."

Nice! The older version are hard to come by."

It's actually my own copy of The Stand from 30 years ago, still with the bookmark halfway through! It's yellow, but in good condition. I have The Running Man too, that only says it's by Rchard Bachman, not Stephen King.

Tom wrote: "I'm almost done with The Magician King Then I'll read whatever we pick next and finish Reamde."
What do you think about The Magician King? I had a marginal experience with the first one but thought the second could help the story along...

I finished re-reading Alphabet of Thorn. Next up is my book group read The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown: A Novel. And I still have to finish the Half Made World--I'm half done.

Jenny wrote: "What do you think about The Magician King? I had a marginal experience with the first one but thought the second could help the story along..."

Interestingly, it was your low review of The Magicians that made me take it off my "to read" list and Tom's enjoyment of it that made me put it back on (for audio).

I finished listening to Macbeth: A Novel today. I quite enjoyed it. It deviated a slight bit from the play, added some details that you wouldn't get just from reading the play. If you like Macbeth, I really recommend it. Later today I'm planning to start listening to Solaris, based on Luke's review. I might not get to it, though, with a large podcast backlog (this is what happens when I play hookey from work), so we'll see.

I'm continuing Anansi Boys, Exile, and I started The Last Unicorn yesterday.

terpkristin wrote: "Interestingly, it was your low review of The Magicians that made me take it off my "to read" list and Tom's enjoyment of it that made me put it back on (for audio)."
*takes a moment to revel in the power*

Okay. So, which of us did you agree with?

Jenny overload!

Jenny wrote: "Okay. So, which of us did you agree with?"

Haven't gotten to it yet. :D
I'm thinking my time right now (playing hookey from work) would be much better spent listening to books than watching Top Chef reruns while sorting through photos from various trips (and uploading to Flickr). Alas...

Which season of Top Chef? I love the brothers + Chef Kevin, and the original Richard year....

Just got Jack McDevitt's lastet, Firebird. Hope to get to it right after I finish Steve Jobs.

Nokomis.FL wrote: "Just got Jack McDevitt's lastet, Firebird. Hope to get to it right after I finish Steve Jobs."
That's next on my list. Looking forward to some more Alex and Chase.

I have tried reading A Game of Thrones about five times. This time I'm going to try it in audio book.

Listening to the audiobook version of A Scanner Darkly read by Paul Giamatti. It's quite good so far.

Just about done with Song of Susannah an then will start The Dark Tower on Audible and reading For The Win and A Clash of Kings.

Ooh boy, November is a huge reading month for me because my wife does NaNoWriMo and the place has to be tomb quiet. This month, Abe Lincoln Vampire hunter, the fifth book of the Dresden files, a book about dog coaching, third book of the font of mice and pyres. Nonfiction will be Whedonistas from Mad Norwegian Press and a whole bunch of chapbooks from Yard Dog. Bubbas of the Apocalypse and such.

Oh, and my wife thinks I am writing a NaNoWriMo. But I dunno if I have the time.

Jim wrote: "...a book about dog coaching..."

Is your dog on a team?

Tamahome wrote: ""
Ditto, only technically I finished yesterday. Reading twins!

What is that book?

Tamahome wrote: ""

Darn you. I went to the SFFAudio spreadsheet and saw it's upcoming as a readalong. So now I'm downloading it. I expect I'll finish Solaris: The Definitive Edition tomorrow, so I'll jump into it then...

Jenny wrote: "Tom wrote: "I'm almost done with The Magician King Then I'll read whatever we pick next and finish Reamde."
What do you think about The Magician King? I had a marginal experience w..."

Just finished and I liked the 2nd one better than the first. I was greatly entertained by the first but in a novelty way. A little deeper than Ready Player One but a little bit of the same feel. I liked the characters and setting enough to try King and I think it was much better.

Tom wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Tom wrote: "I'm almost done with The Magician King Then I'll read whatever we pick next and finish Reamde."
What do you think about The Magician King? I had a margina..."

Thanks Tom. I feel I should give him another shot.

terpkristin wrote: "Tamahome wrote: ""

Darn you. I went to the SFFAudio spreadsheet and saw it's upcoming as a readalong. So now I'm downloading it. I..."

Audio or eBook? It is pretty quick either way. Muahaha.

Audio. Was cheap on Audible.

Agreed

I love The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I found a copy sitting in my math room for 6 month in high school, and read it Thanksgiving four years ago. I find it to be a really unique and interesting novel.

Currently listening to Old Man's Warand reading Blindsight. And planning to read the Steve Jobsbook and Snuffduring November.

Should keep me busy.

I'm just the most exciting guy, I know: reading several reports on services/organizations that serve the homeless in Central Florida (for academic research). Oy!

I'm listening to Life & Fate from Audible. It is neither sword nor laser.

Currently reading The Affinity Bridge by George Mann on my Nook, and have Clementine by Cherie Priest loaded up and on deck. kinda Steampunky start to the month it seams

I'm reading the last of the Giller prize nominees that I can get my hands on (two are unpublished in the states still), so finishing up with The Cat's Table. I've been listening to Skippy Dies from Audible which is really fun on audio with all the Irish accents and multiple voices.

I'm also binge-re-reading The Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson, including Burning Chrome, the book of short stories that came before.

I'm reading the first book of the Thomas Covenant series by Stephen R. Donaldson, and am struggling a bit, for all the reasons you are probably well aware of if you've ever tried to read this tale as an adult. I'm pressing forward, close to halfway, but Hellfire! it's a slog at times.

I'm also listening to Black House by King & Straub, and I actually like it a lot better than The Talisman so far. Oh, and long live Frank Muller.